Storyteller entertains at Edneyville Library

Published: Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 4:39 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 4:39 p.m.

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They're not his stories, but he makes them his own. On Saturday, Robinson shared classic African-American stories with children at the Edneyville Library to celebrate Black History Month.

He entered the room wearing an African robe. He added a scarf, which he told the children could possess magic. Their eyes widened, but the scarf had no effect. Before the disappointment could show, his attention turned to a Jamaican knitted hat on a table beside a stack of books.

Sometimes, he said, the hat is needed for the magic to appear.

He slid the multi-colored hat onto his head, and as if by magic, Robinson began to cackle like one of the hyenas from “The Lion King.” The children laughed as his laughter seemed to be uncontrollable. He rocked back, held his belly, and the laughter filled the room.

The magic had come.

And with that magic, Robinson told the story of Anansi -- without a book, in a new Jamaican accent. The Lead Teacher at Bruce Drysdale Elementary School came alive with animation, and the children listened wide-eyed as the words flowed, with a different voice for each character.

Robinson also told the legend of John Henry and a tale about Brer Rabbit.

Storytelling comes naturally for the 68-year-old. His grandfather told him great tales as a child – some written, some he made up as he went.

The gift was passed down to his grandson.

As a teenager, Robinson began sharing stories with kids at school. When he became a teacher in his 20s, Robinson formalized his storytelling. The more stories he told, the more his legend grew.

Robinson has told stories at education conferences in Jamaica, Canada and all over the United States. He and his wife, Debbie, moved to Henderson County a year ago after Robinson retired as a school superintendent in Florida.

“I realized I really didn't like being retired,” he joked.

When he gets the chance, he reads at Bruce Drysdale Elementary, and he reads at local churches as well.

That's how Edneyville librarian Teresa Weaver found Robinson. Robinson read to the children at Fruitland United Methodist Church, and the congregation was mesmerized, Weaver said.

“When I heard him tell a story, I knew we had to have him here,” she said.

Robinson couldn't pick out a favorite from the many books he retrieved from his blue satchel at the library on Saturday.

“It all depends on the day and the moment,” he said. “I enjoy everything.”

The book that seems to draw his attention the most contains the Uncle Remus tales, where Brer Rabbit is the main character. They are the stories Robinson's wife enjoys hearing the most, she said.

Robinson does admit a little extra love for those books. He was the oldest of nine children, and the wily and mischievous Brer Rabbit really appealed to him in his childhood.

“I always imagined I was like the rabbit,” he said. “I related to the character of Brer Rabbit.”

And as he repeated a Brer Rabbit tale for the children on Saturday, adults from around the library listened in, but the smiles on the children's faces told another story: Robinson is a good storyteller.

<p>Oscar Robinson tells stories. </p><p>They're not his stories, but he makes them his own. On Saturday, Robinson shared classic African-American stories with children at the Edneyville Library to celebrate Black History Month. </p><p>He entered the room wearing an African robe. He added a scarf, which he told the children could possess magic. Their eyes widened, but the scarf had no effect. Before the disappointment could show, his attention turned to a Jamaican knitted hat on a table beside a stack of books.</p><p>Sometimes, he said, the hat is needed for the magic to appear. </p><p>He slid the multi-colored hat onto his head, and as if by magic, Robinson began to cackle like one of the hyenas from “The Lion King.” The children laughed as his laughter seemed to be uncontrollable. He rocked back, held his belly, and the laughter filled the room. </p><p>The magic had come.</p><p>And with that magic, Robinson told the story of Anansi -- without a book, in a new Jamaican accent. The Lead Teacher at Bruce Drysdale Elementary School came alive with animation, and the children listened wide-eyed as the words flowed, with a different voice for each character. </p><p>Robinson also told the legend of John Henry and a tale about Brer Rabbit.</p><p>Storytelling comes naturally for the 68-year-old. His grandfather told him great tales as a child – some written, some he made up as he went.</p><p>The gift was passed down to his grandson.</p><p>As a teenager, Robinson began sharing stories with kids at school. When he became a teacher in his 20s, Robinson formalized his storytelling. The more stories he told, the more his legend grew.</p><p>Robinson has told stories at education conferences in Jamaica, Canada and all over the United States. He and his wife, Debbie, moved to Henderson County a year ago after Robinson retired as a school superintendent in Florida.</p><p>“I realized I really didn't like being retired,” he joked. </p><p>When he gets the chance, he reads at Bruce Drysdale Elementary, and he reads at local churches as well.</p><p>That's how Edneyville librarian Teresa Weaver found Robinson. Robinson read to the children at Fruitland United Methodist Church, and the congregation was mesmerized, Weaver said. </p><p>“When I heard him tell a story, I knew we had to have him here,” she said. </p><p>Robinson couldn't pick out a favorite from the many books he retrieved from his blue satchel at the library on Saturday.</p><p>“It all depends on the day and the moment,” he said. “I enjoy everything.”</p><p>The book that seems to draw his attention the most contains the Uncle Remus tales, where Brer Rabbit is the main character. They are the stories Robinson's wife enjoys hearing the most, she said.</p><p>Robinson does admit a little extra love for those books. He was the oldest of nine children, and the wily and mischievous Brer Rabbit really appealed to him in his childhood.</p><p>“I always imagined I was like the rabbit,” he said. “I related to the character of Brer Rabbit.”</p><p>And as he repeated a Brer Rabbit tale for the children on Saturday, adults from around the library listened in, but the smiles on the children's faces told another story: Robinson is a good storyteller.</p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>